Salvation

A person very close to me shared this devotion, and I asked if I could post it here. Reading it brought tears to my eyes.

"I was eight years old when I went with a friend to Good News Club. It was in a woman‘s home that I did not know. She told us some stories and gave us a snack. Then she shared the gospel with me.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

I believed that what she was saying was the truth and I knew right then and there that I needed this “Jesus” and that I wanted to be with Him in Heaven someday.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22-23

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; it if were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am.” John 14:2-3

I knelt on her cold concrete basement floor and told Jesus that I was a sinner and that I wanted Him to be my Savior. I can still remember the cold on my little 8-year-old knees.

“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raise Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9-10

“If we confess ours sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

I walked home about two miles that day by myself, carrying a Bible that she gave me, to a home where the Lord’s name was only used in vain. To parents who never took me to church and would have laughed or possibly would have been mad if I had told them what had happened to me. After that day, I never went back to Good News Club and I still never went to church. I didn’t do anything any differently than I ever did, but I knew something had happened to me that day. Christ was faithful to do what He had promised.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the work of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is  a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1;13-14

Fifteen years went by and I had my first baby and I began to think about this Jesus who had died for me. I wanted this baby to learn about Him. I wanted my life to be different. We began to look for a church. We found Bettendorf Christian Church and I began to learn more about Jesus. There was more than eternal life He wanted me to have. There was a gift that was available to me as well.

“wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4b-5

I was obedient to Him in baptism. Jesus did the work on the cross for me. He is the one who has the authority and power to give me eternal life without requiring me to do one thing to deserve it. I believed!

“having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2 12

Almost fifty years later, I am still on my long walk Home and He is still walking with me.

“being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Heavenly Father, I humbly and gratefully thank you for what you have done for me. I look forward to seeing Mrs. Fleener in the crowd of witnesses when I finally make it home to you. Thank you that my job was to believe and that Jesus did all the rest of the work for me. It is in His name that I pray, Amen.